Method of and apparatus for forming a package



R. H. GANZ MEWD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A PACKAGE July 22, 1969 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 13, .1967

R. H. GANZ 3,456,420

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A PACKAGE July 22, 1969 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 13, 1967 R. H. GANZ July 22, 1969 METHOD OFAND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A PACKAGE Filed Jan. 13. 1967 4 SheetsSheet L)Y OA ATTORN July 22, 1969 GANZ 3,456,420 7 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FORFORMING A PACKAGE Filed Jan. 13, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Tlc lb.

mvsmon Foam-n94 aim z A'I TORNEY United States Patent 3,456,420 METHODOF AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING A PACKAGE Robert H. Ganz, 55 McKay Drive,Bergenfield, NJ. 07621 Filed Jan. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 609,086 Int. Cl.B65b 11/10, 7/04, /06

US. CI. 53-32 13 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This subject has todo with the forming of a tight package of the type which includes acarton wrapped about a plurality of containers. The subject particularlyhas to do with the specific provision of side pressure bars which willengage corner forming portions of cartons and which will tightly drawthe corner forming portions of the cartons about containers wherebythere will be a tight interfitting of the cartons about the containerswith a resultant tight package.

This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements incartons of the wrap-around type and more particularly to the provisionof apparatus for tightly applying a carton of the wrap-around type abouta plurality of containers.

When cartons of the wrap-around type are applied to a plurality ofcontainers, usually arranged in two rows, the principal looseness in theresultant package is at the corners of the carton. In accordance withthis invention it is proposed to overcome this deficiency by providingthe carton applying apparatus with one or more side pressure bars whichwill engage at least one corner of the carton to tightly pull the cartonat that one corner about the containers so as to snugly engage thecontainers with the carton at the time the closing of the carton occurs.

This invention particularly relates to cartons of the type having at atleast one corner thereof container receiving openings and tabs. Inaccordance with this invention, a pressure blade or bar is engaged withthe carton corner adjacent the tabs in a manner wherein interlocking ofthe pressure bar with the carton tabs will occur so that pressure may beexerted on the carton to tightly draw the corner of the same around thecontainers without danger of slippage.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method of snuglysecuring a carton around a plurality of containers, particularly at thecorners of the carton, the method including the forming of an oversizecorner having tabs projecting outwardly therefrom, engaging the cornerof the carton with a pressure bar which, as it slides along the corner,will become interlocked with the tabs whereby the pressure bar may beutilized to tightly draw the corner of the carton about the containers.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel cartonblank wherein the corner forming portion of the blank is enhanced by theprovision of an additional fold line in a panel of the carton adjacentthe corner along which the carton may be folded in the applicationthereof to initially and temporarily increase the size of the cornerpanel and thereby facilitate the engagement thereof by suitable meansfor drawing the corner of the carton tightly around containers.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear,the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by referenceto the following detailed description, the appended claims and theseveral views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank for a carton formed in accordancewith this invention.

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FIGURE 2 is a schematic horizontal sectional view of a portion of acarton applying machine and shows specifically the details of and theposition of a side pressure bar added to the machine in accordance withthis invention.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of that portion of themachine shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURES 4, 5, 6, and 7 are enlarged fragmentary transverse sectionalviews taken along the lines 4-4, 5-5, 6-6 and 7-7, respectively ofFIGURE 3 and show the specific sequence in the tight inter-fitting of acarton corner about containers.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary bottom view of that portion of a carton shownin FIGURE 7 and shows the engagement of the pressure bar with thecarton.

FIGURE 9 is a transverse sectional view on a small scale taken along theline 7-7 of FIGURE 3 and shows the cooperation of two side pressure barswith carton latching mechanisms of the machine.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary plan view of one end of another form ofcarton blank.

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken through aportion of a package forming machine which has incorporated therein apressure bar formed in accordance with this invention and showsspecifically the details and position of the pressure bar.

FIGURES 12, 13, 14, and 15 are enlarged fragmentary transverse verticalsectional views taken along the lines 12-12, 13-13, 14-14, and 15-15,respectively, of FIGURE 11 and shows specifically the sequence offolding a carton blank around containers and forming a tight cornerconstruction.

FIGURE 16 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom view of that portion of thecarton shown in FIGURE 15 and more specifically illustrates the detailsthereof.

FIGURE 17 is a transverse sectional view on a small scale taken alongthe line 15-15 of FIGURE 11 and shows the cooperation of two sidepressure bars with carton latching mechanisms of the machine.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated in FIGURE 1 a blank which is particularly adapted for use inaccordance with this invention, the carton blank being generallyreferred to by the numeral 20. It is to be noted that the carton blank20 is of a specific configuration for use with bottles which arearranged in two rows of three bottles each. The specific carton blank 20illustrated in FIGURE 1 includes a top central panel 21 and outer toppanels 22 which have formed therein openings 23 for the necks ofbottles. On the opposite sides of the outer top panels 22 there are sidepanels 24. Next adjacent the side panels 24 are corner panels 25 whichare connected to the side panels 24 along interrupted fold lines 26.Each corner panel 25 is further defined by an interrupted fold line 27.

Botton closure panels 28 and 29 are hingedly connected to the cornerpanels 25 along the interrupted fold lines 27 thereof. The closure panel29 has latch openings 30 formed therein in alignment with the bottleneck receiving openings 23. The closure panel 28 has hingedly connectedthereto along a fold line 31 a plurality of latching flaps 33 which arecentered relative to respective ones of the bottle neck receivingopenings 23 and which have projecting from the opposite edges thereofpivotal catches 34 and tongues 39. The catches 34 and the tongues 39interlock with the closure panel 29 through the latch openings 30 tointerlock the closure panels 28 and 29 in a customary manner.

It is to be understood that the carton blank 20 is dimensioned to snuglywrap-around six bottles B and form therewith a readily handleablepackage. In the forming of this package, the carton blank 20 is droppedover the necks of the bottles B and then folded down alongside thebottles with the outer top panels 22 sloping downwardly from the centraltop panel 21 and engaging the shoulders of the bottles. The side panels24 extend down along the sides of the bottles. It is then necessary totightly draw the corner panels 25 around the lower portions of thebottles in a manner so as to both draw the side panels 24 down andinterlock the corner panels with the bottles. While the side panels andthe corner panels are held in such a tight bottle engaging relation, theclosure panels 28 and 29 must be secured together by means of the latchconstruction.

In order that the corner panels 25 may tightly interlock with thebottles, there is formed in each corner panel 25 a plurality of bottlereceiving openings which are aligned with the openings 23. Each opening35 eX- tends across the efiective portion of its respective corner panel25 and across the respective fold line 27 into the respective one of theclosure panels 28 and 29, and is of a configuration so as to definealong the edge of each closure panel 28 a tab 36 for each opening 35. Itis to be noted that each tab 36 has sloping side edges so as .to providerelatively deep and sharp notches 37 on each side of each tab 36.

In order that the side panels 24 may more tightly receive bottles, thecarton blank 20 is provided between the interrupted portions of eachfold line 26 with generally arcuate cuts 38 which, in cooperation withthe fold lines 26, extend entirely across the carton blank 20 and formboundaries of the openings 35. In addition, for each cut 38 there is acut 40 extending generally normal to the cut 38 to permit the lowerportion of each side panel 24 to expand outwardly when the corner panel25 is drawn tightly around bottles.

In accordance with this invention, the carton blank 20 has been modifiedas compared to previous somewhat similar carton blanks to include aninterrupted fold line 41 in each of the closure panels 28 and 29. Theinterrupted fold lines 41 are disposed adjacent to and in parallelrelation to respective ones of the interrupted fold lines 27. It is tobe noted that the fold lines 41 are interrupted by the openings 35. Itis also to be noted that the openings 35 extend deeper into the closurepanels 28 and 29 than in prior carton blank constructions. Theinterrupted fold lines 41 are provided for an initial and temporaryfolding of the closure panels 28 and 29 relative to the corner panels 25to provide for temporarily and initially greater width corner panelsfrom which the tabs 36 predominantly project.

In accordance with this invention, in addition to the customary cartonapplying apparatus of a package forming machine, there is provided anupstanding blade 42 which is generally identified as a sabre. The sabre42 extends down below the plane of the bottom of the bottles B and hasthe lower edge thereof initially aligned with the respective one of thefold lines 41.

In order to effect the folding of a respective one of the closure panelsbeneath the bottles, the closure panel 29 being illustrated, the cartonforming machine includes a conventional panel folding blade 43 whichgradually slopes up towards the plane of the bottoms of the bottles B Itwill be seen that as the bottles B, with the carton blank 20 engagedthereover, move down the predetermined path of bottles or likecontainers along the package forming machine, the folding blade 43functions to fold the closure panel 29 along the fold line 41substantially at right angles to the respective corner panel 25 aboutthe sabre 42 and along the interrupted fold line 41. This arrangement,as is clearly shown in FIGURE 5, provides for an oversize cornerconstruction.

In order to tightly interlock the carton blank about the bottles B,particularly at the lower corners of the package being formed, thepackage forming machine also includes a side pressure bar or blade 44.The side pressure bar 44, in the simplest form of the invention, isdisposed along only that side of the machine where the closure panel 29passes and is at an elevation just above the path of the fold line 27adjacent the closure panel 29. The side pressure bar 44 has a startingramp portion 45, an inoperative intermediate portion 46, a pressureapplying ramp portion 47 and a pressure holding portion 48.

Referring now to FIGURE 5 in particular, it will be seen that after theclosure panel 29 has been folded to a position generally parallel to thebottoms of the bottles B, the side pressure bar or blade 44 comes intoengagement with the corner panel 25 just above the interrupted fold line27. As the bottles B and the carton blank 20 continue to pass along thepredetermined path of the package forming machine, the corner panel 25adjacent the closure panel 29 engages the pressure applying portion orramp 47 of the side pressure bar 44 and the corner panel 25 will befolded relative to its respective side panel 24 along the interruptedfold line 26. This is best shown in FIGURE 6.

As the corner panel 25 moves further along the ramp portion 47 of theside pressure bar 44, the corner panel 25 is pulled tighter around thebottles B and the side panel 24 is drawn downwardly slightly. Thecontinued movement of the corner panel 25 inwardly results in portionsof the bottles B projecting through the openings 35 in the corner panel25.

As the corner panel 25 is progressively folded around the bottles B, thefolding blade 27 is progressively moving the closure panel 29 upwardlytowards the bottoms of the bottles. As a result, the tabs 36 come intoengagement with the underside of the side pressure bar 44 and the sidepressure bar. 44 becomes interlocked in the notches 37 of the openingsand firmly interlocks behind the tabs 36. As the pressure applying edgeof the side pressure bar 44 more firmly forces the corner panel 25around and below the bottles B, slippage of the carton blank withrespect to the side pressure bar 44 is prevented. At the same time,adjacent portions of the closure panel 29 and the respective cornerpanel 25 prevent engagement of the side pressure bar 44 with thebottles.

In FIGURE 7 there is illustrated the relationship of the carton blankwith respect to the bottles B and the side pressure bar 44 when thecorner panel 25 is engaged with the holding portion 48 of the cartonengaging edge of the side pressure bar 44. It will be obvious that thecarton blank is tightly engaged about the bottles B and that the foldingof the closure panel 29 along the fold line 41 no longer occurs. Thefolding of the corner panel rezlative to the closure panel 29 is nowalong the fold ine 7.

With the closure panel 29 in the position illustrated in FIGURE 7, theclosure panel 28 may be latched thereto in a manner clearly disclosed inUS. Patent No. 2,986,857 to Henry Ganz and entitled Machine and Methodfor Packaging Articles. At this time it is pointed out that while insome machines it may be desired to provide only one side pressure bar, asecond side pressure bar may be provided on the opposite side of themachine for use in tightly drawing the corner panel 25 associated withthe closure panel 28 around the bottles. This additional side pressurebar is shown in FIGURE 9 and is identified by the numeral 49. Also,there is shown a portion of the latching mechanism of the machine whichincludes a vertical plate 50 and a folding blade 51.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 10 wherein there is illustrated aportion of a modified form of carton blank which is generally referredto by the numeral 60. The carton blank 60, with the exception of thespecific corner constructions of the carton blank 20, is very similar tothe carton blank 20. It is to be noted from the end portion of thecarton blank 60 which has been illustrated in FIGURE 10 that a sidepanel 61 thereof is directly hingedly connected to the closure panel 62along an interrupted fold line 63. The fold line 63 is interrupted bycontainer receiving openings 64 formed primarily in the side panel 61.Each container receiving opening 64 is formed by a pair of arcuate cutlines 65 and 66 which are in partially nested relation and with the cutlines 66 defining a rounded edge of a tab 67 which projects from theclosure panel 62. It is to be noted that the cut lines 65 and 66intersect one another at relatively sharp angles to define notches 68 onopposite sides of the tabs 67.

It is to be understood that the carton blank 60 will have a closurepanel which corresponds to the closure panel 28 at the opposite endthereof and such closure panel will be identified by the numeral 69, asis best shown in FIGURE 17. The closure panel 69 has hingedly connectedthereto latching flaps 70 each of which has a catch 71 and a tongue 72projecting from opposite sides thereof. The catches 71 and the tongues72 are interlocked with the closure panel 62 through latch openings 73formed therein.

The carton blank 60 is applied over a plurality of hottles in the samemanner as the carton blank 20. After the side panels 61 have been foldeddown around the bottles, the closure panel 62 is engaged by a rotatingfolding blade 75 disposed at one side of the path of movement of thebottles and carton blanks through the machine and the closure panel 62is folded into underlying relation with respect to the bottles, as isshown in FIGURES 12 and 13. The closure panel 62 hinges relative to theside panel 61 along the fold lines 63 and as a result, the tabs 67 swingfrom upstanding positions (FIGURE 12) to outwardly projecting horizontalpositions (FIGURE 13).

The package forming machine also includes a side pressure bar or blade76 which extends along one side of the machine. The side pressure bar 76has an upstanding nose 77 at the starting end thereof and has a cartonengaging edge which includes a pressure applying ramp portion 78 thatconverges inwardly towards the center of the machine in the direction ofcontainer travel.

It is to 'be noted that the underside of the side pressure bar 76 isspaced above the plane of the folding blade 75 a distance substantiallyequal to the thickness of the carton blank. As the carton blank, withthe closure panel 62 thereof folded beneath the bottles B, moves alongthe machine, the outwardly projecting tabs 67 pass under the sidepressure bar 76 in the manner clearly shown in FIG- URE 13. Thecontinued movement of the carton blank along the side pressure bar 76results in the ramp portion 78 engaging the lower part of the sidepanels 61 with the result that the lower part of the side panel 61 isforced inwardly towards the center of the path of movement of thebottles B in the manner shown in FIGURE 14. This tightly draws the lowerportion of the side panel 61 around the bottles with the result that thelower portions of the bottles project through the openings 64, as isclearly shown in FIGURE 14. At the same time, the side pressure bar 76becomes seated in the notches 68 and become interlocked with the cartonblank so as to prevent the accidental slippage thereof past the tabs 67.Substantially at this time the closure panel 62 rides up on a bar orblade 80 which firmly holds the closure panel 62 against the bottoms ofthe bottles B.

As the carton blank moves further along the side pressure bar 76, thecarton blank rides fully up onto the pressure applying ramp portion 78and becomes engaged with a holding portion 81 (FIGURE 11) in whichposition the carton blank is fully engaged around the bottles in themanner shown in FIGURE 15. The relationship of the carton blank withrespect to the side pressure bar 76 at this time is clearly shown inFIGURE 16.

Referring now to FIGURE 17, it will be seen that while pressure isretained on the carton blank by the side pressure bar 76, the closurepanel 69 is folded beneath the closure panel 62 and latched thereto inthe general manner described in FIGURE 9. If desired, the closure panel69 may also be tightly drawn beneath the bottles 68 by means of a secondside pressure bar 81.

Although the machine has been illustrated in conjunction with cartonshaving the closure flaps in the bottom of the carton, it is to beunderstood that the closure flaps or panels can be disposed along thesides or tops of the cartons. Furthermore, it is to be understood thatthe corner tightening function of the pressure bars may be utilizedindependently of the drawing together of the closure panels.

Notwithstanding the fact that the invention has been specificallydescribed and illustrated in conjunction with a carton particularlyadapted to be engaged with bottles, it is to be understood that theinvention may advantageously be utilized in conjunction with packagesformed of cans about which cartons have been wrapped. While the roundedcorners of bottles necessitate and facilitate the tight drawing ofcorners of cartons thereabout, it is to be understood that the sameprinciple can be applied with respect to can packages.

Although only two preferred embodiments of the invention have beenspecifically illustrated and described herein, it is to be understoodthat other minor variations may be made in the package forming machine,the method of utilizing the same and the specific carton blankconstruction without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus for applying a carton of the wraparound type to aplurality of containers moving on a support surface along apredetermined path to form a package wherein the carton has a closurepanel formed of two partial panels secured together and two adjacentpanels and wherein at the intersection of at least one partial panel anda respective adjacent panel there is a corner construction whichincludes suitable openings through which portions of containers projectto provide interlocks between the containers and the cartons; andwherein at each opening a tab projects from one of said panels generallydefining the corner; the improvement residing in the provision of apressure bar alongside the path of movement of the containers at atleast one side thereof, said pressure bar having a carton engaging edgedisposed on the corner openings side of a plane in which the carton tabsmove to assure an interlocking of said pressure bar with a carton cornerand said side pressure bar edge sloping inwardly into the path ofcontainer movement in the direction of movement to tightly force thecarton corners around containers to form a tight package.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pressure bar is disposed alongonly one side of the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein there are two pressure bars disposedin opposed relation for simultaneously drawing two opposite cartoncorners into tight engagement with containers.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein folder means is disposed immediatelyin advance of said pressure bar for folding a partial panel to form thecarton corner and holding the carton corner and tabs in a predeterminedposition for engagement by said pressure bar.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein cooperating folder means areprovided in advance of said pressure bar for temporarily folding one ofthe corner defining panels to form an oversize corner with a maximumprojection of the tabs to assure engagement of said pressure bar behindsaid tabs, and wherein the relation of said pressure bar to thecontainer path of movement assures the re-forming of the carton corneraround containers.

6. In an apparatus for applying a carton of the Wraparound type to aplurality of containers moving on a support surface along apredetermined path wherein the carton is draped over the containersfollowed by the folding of closure panels beneath the containers and thesecuring together of the closure panels, and wherein each closure panelin combination with an adjacent panel defines a corner adapted to snuglyengage containers and including projecting tabs on the closure panels;the improvement residing in the provision of a side pressure baralongside the container path of movement at at least one side thereof,said side pressure bar having a carton corner engaging edge disposedabove the path of movement of carton tabs and converging into the pathof container travel in the direction of container movement toautomatically tightly force an engaged carton corner around containerswith slippage of said side pressure bar out of engagement with a cartoncorner being prevented by the carton tabs.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein folder means is disposed immediatelyin advance of said pressure bar for folding a partial panel to form thecarton corner and holding the carton corner and tabs in a predeterminedposition for engagement by said pressure bar.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein cooperating folder means areprovided in advance of said pressure bar for temporarily folding one ofthe corner defining panels to form an oversize corner with a maximumprojection of the tabs to assure engagement of said pressure bar behindsaid tabs, and wherein the relation of said pressure bar to thecontainer path of movement assures the re-forming of the carton corneraround containers.

9. A method of forming a tight corner in a package of the type includinga plurality of containers enclosed in a wrap-around carton and whereinthe corner is disposed between two adjacent carton panels of which atleast one panel has tabs projecting generally towards the plane of theother panel; the method comprising the steps of folding the adjacentcarton panels generally around containers to form a corner, andthereafter engaging the carton corner and utilizing the tabs as stopelements drawing the carton corner tightly around the containers.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the containers and carton are movingand the drawing of the carton corner is a progressive drawing operation.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the carton corner is initially looselyformed to present the carton tabs for engagement by a pressure bar.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the carton corner is initially looselyformed to present the carton tabs for engagement by a pressure bar andthe panel folding continues during the corner drawing.

13. In an apparatus for applying a carton of the wraparound type to aplurality of containers moving on a support surface along apredetermined path to form a package wherein the carton has a closurepanel formed of two partial panels secured together and two adjacentpanels and wherein at the intersection of at least one partial panel anda respective adjacent panel there is a corner construction whichincludes suitable openings through which portions of containers projectto provide interlocks between the containers and the cartons; andwherein at each opening a tab projects from one of said panels generallydefining the corner; the improvement residing in the provision of meansfor interlocking with a carton corner to tightly force the carton corneraround containers to form a tight package.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner NEIL ABRAMS, Assistant Examiner US.Cl. X.R.

